Test Drive Opel Vectra Sedan 2002 - 2005 Sedan

Dorosli to business class

With each new generation, the size of passenger cars increases. This trend being developed in 20-30 turns the concentration of once relatively modest segment machines D almost to the flagships of their model range. And the last generation of sedans in size, equipping and quality without stretching can be called a business class.
Interestingly, over the past 2-3 years, almost all automakers in the class D has occurred models. Veterans left little. Is that another passat eternal standard not arrived. Therefore, the choice and for the buyer, and for the test is very wide here. In order not to make yourself notify with doubts, we decide blindly pushing your finger in the map, take the Germans, Frenchman and the Japanese. And it is desirable that their sizes, weight and energy transportation were one to one. It is not always simple, especially considering that live cars this season, gripping and in the salons. Rarely you can meet the entire model range in free sale. But we were lucky we brought in the test almost the same on the characteristics of the new Toyota Avensis 2.0 (147 hp) and Opel Vectra 2.2 (147 hp) with a 2-liter Citroen C5 (136 hp). This model is from the Musketeer's Motherland, although it is not a novelty, but nevertheless refers to the XXI century (2001) and not yet appeared on design. All Trinity with automatic machines, but, as it is now generally accepted, allowing manual management.
 
Even at first glance, it is noticeable, as much in common with Vectra and Avensis. Although, perhaps, on the contrary, Toyota looks like Opel after all this model appeared later. Previously, this expression of the face with the original front optics was not found. But let's still consider this coincidence. Often, fresh ideas appear immediately in several heads. With the rear of cars in general, much less. And in the profile, the pronounced ocel wedge is opposed to the obvious face of the soot of Toyota with its high curved belt line. This slightly reminds those models (say, Crown) that the Japanese do for their domestic market. But from C5 according to the criterion of recognition, an explicit advantage: He does not even confuse him from anyone far from the automotive world. Eco-friendly spreading forms remind unless about Salvador and ... about Citrogen itself with his rich history.
If you get carried away, then we can talk about the successes and disadvantages, originality and secondaryness. But here everyone strives to act as a judge and criticism, call on the bis and turn the legs. Nevertheless, I would venture to express the view that Vectra is drawn up most clearly, with the family recognizance and with undisguised desire to ask a new tone sports and hard image of the brand, previously considered inexpensive and phreette. As for Toyota, even outwardly noticeably, as they tried, even from the skin, climb, designers to make beautifully. And if you do not go to the tongue of high automotive fashion that condemns even a hint of kitsch, then Avensis clearly succeeded. Especially against the background of absolutely neutral precursors. But to judge Citroen for general standards is generally difficult, the traditions of the brand and the style of the heavy burden were pretended over the authors of the design. But, in my opinion, especially on the background of the baby's talented and obviously talented hand, the top five looks somewhat amorphous and vague. I also note that outwardly C5 looks with a grind, more imbued and large-sized than Avensis and Vectra. But, looking at the table, you will see that the class of all three cars is absolutely identical. Illusions of view, you understand ...
Salon filling for the whole Trinity completely unlike. Here and compare it is difficult as green with square. Opel Techno style. All black, even gloomy, dense, perfectly fitted. Fat stylish steering wheel with four faceted knitting needles. Noise isolation perfect deeply as in a tank. All the handles on the panel are similar, and to confuse them simply. What I did constantly. Want to add the volume of the radio tape recorder grows the temperature of the blowing temperature. By the way, about the trunk. If in the cabin there is a corresponding key, which means that the lid of the luggage compartment should be disclosed when pressed? Nothing like this! It is necessary to go still press a round button under the lid. Uncomfortable.
Opel Vertra.
+
 
Thoughtful interior
Excellent visibility and sense of size
Beautiful acoustics
–   
 
Low apron bumper
Crowd switches without fixation
Opel seats, though comfortable and absolutely not tired for a couple of days of ride with a tight schedule, almost flat. But the second row is generally a smooth bench. Sit behind yourself not closely, but the crown to the ceiling pulls out. More on a car that fell to us, cool Hi-Fi. Even the radio gives such a clean and deep sound with a strikingly wide frequency range, which is sometimes distracted from the driving process. The outcome of the interior digging in the new word can be formulated as follows: the highest German quality and the goodness, brought to the limit, care and love for the driver and passengers, expressed in every little thing, but the absence of a raisin in style. Panel here is fresh, boring.
Divide to Toyota. Despite otherwise than in Opel, stylistic decisions, here surprisingly a lot with him in common. This is especially true of the quality of plastic and gap accuracy. Bravo! Avensis NEW has become a completely European car. Japanese secondary and difference almost disappeared. Almost. Still, it is noticeable that many decisions were not matured evolutionally, but were spied in the most distorted and advanced producers. Pretty glance will pay attention to the color difference: there is black, there is light, here under aluminum; Symbols are white, and edging chrome. The desire to argue is immense. If you do not put the originality of the design at the head of the corner, Avensis is the perfect student, surpassed many teachers. Everything is made solid, in an adult.
And with what sound the doors slam! You will pull the handle gently seems to just move the heavy door from the scene, and she, look, and already snapped with a delicate claw, and immediately and completely. Reference. But the steering wheel, although it will trim good skin, but thin. As well as the KP lever. Exactly under the miniature lady's handle is sharpened. It seems to be not fundamentally: the machine has turned on at the beginning of the road, but it put on R. but no, here you can pull the hand here +, and the lever in the fist is lost ... A plastic tree is used in the dear version (as well as in Vectra ). What, in my opinion, it looks badly for a fake, and everything else is real! Deep cozy armchairs, space especially rear, for feet. But the places above the head in the second row are less than that of competitors, personally it was uncomfortable here. I had to bend.
The third competitor of C5 on the interior decoration, I admit honestly, not too pleased ... There is a feeling that his salon was developed without regard to the change of the last 20 years. We will meet such a rude, gray and unfriendly plastic only on American SUVs yes on dwarf cars, where it is possible to save at cost at cost and provide an acceptable price for a student-driver. But on the flagship?! Again, I will turn to the cute my heart to the baby C3 in terms of the execution of the machine as if we were changed in places!
Toyota Avensis
+
   
Finishing quality
9 (!) Airbags
Silent engine
  
–  
 
Phlegmatic temperament
To soften the level of criticism, I note that Citroen's salon is spacious, like any of the competitors. You can sit at anywhere in a hat, and if you want to break down. It clearly managed to find a compromise between streamlining and internal volume. But in the rest of the rest of the quality of the quality of the steering wheel switches, which strive to stay in your hands, poorly fixable buttons are vague to the touch. Incorrectly panoramic mirrors and the almost tank narrow of the rear window ambrusura. The ACP lever moves along a Mercedes-like zigzag. Its plastic malfunction under chrome has such a cutting front edge that falls right under the tips of the fingers, which you can soon need a patch. Although this, perhaps, the feature of a specific instance. The other hit of the ill-impaired internal handle doors. Someone, ingenious fantasy launched the plane of their opening on the 90th horizontally. So it turns out to pull the handle, but to push the door will be either a second hand or elbow. Absurd...
But driving qualities in large sedans, as in all solid cars, much more neutral, reduced under some medium standard.
Modeably dynamic responsive Opel pleased the greatest adequacy of the management (the only minus is almost lazy entry into the turn). In Vectre, the most convenient manual mode of the box: the lever walks like oil, and the reaction to switching is instant. But here I can not do without comments. The first concerns a stealless control of turn signals. The lever is not fixed here, and after pressing it starts to click so much how much he wants. He himself understands when you jerked the wheel in the opposite direction. But it is unpleasant that this is done in addition to your will and not always timely. The second claim is purely geometric extremely low apron of the front bumper: you can only put the muzzle on the border.
Avensis's behavior is perfect, otherwise you can not say. Should I like greater dynamics. But in theory there are much more rotten versions of 1.6 and 1.8. Well, the dimensions in Toyota are felt worse than competitors, despite the identity of the sizes. Of all the Trinity, Avensis stands out to the most solid, representative behavior on the road. He is imposed and planted. And most importantly, obedient.
I will not be original if I say that the set of small misses of the Citroen is reached by indispensable sometimes in domestic conditions of a hydropneumatic suspension. Situation: Muscovite broke in one of three rows, and in the other, the bus began to turn the left (by itself, no one will miss his glory through his stream, not in America!). And in the only ringer of the row and chaos. Competition three to one. I slowly rolling into the right cargo curb and press the up button. It is inconvenient, of course, that the display on the panel of level over the asphalt is only an indirect arrow up / down, but on the surrounding subjects I notice that Rasta. Under the surprise-enthusiastic views of drivers exposed in battles and grilled at the stop of passengers C5 easily crashes on the sidewalk height of centimeters 20 with nuts. Cork toward. Abrupting the gradation after me, a wide disappointment is not solved on the same feat and does not hurt with the view and it should be buried into the thick of the way. At C5 angle ramp colossal.
Citroen C5.
+
 
Bold plus changing clearance
Spacious salon
–  
 
Long minus interior finish
Did you want conclusions? Me too. But I do not know your priorities. And all the views are different. And the choice is always yours. Buyers voting money is quite massively buying Opere and Toyota, but Citroen does not bypass.
OUTSIDE:
At the examples of this diverse Trinity, you can safely illustrate the dynamics of the development of modern style. Judge for yourself: Citroen swan biodisane song of the end of the 80s, Opel is quite hard techno starting a new century and, finally, Toyota techno soft and even a bit decorated, incoming in the fashion recently. According to Brand's recognition, indisputable leadership remains for the Japanese car, the design of which is also corporate, that according to modern standards is valued especially. The view of the Opel and Toyota headlights are similar, and both cars are equally breeding it a little bit, which, however, on the hand Citroen, the view of which the archaic dive itself is little expressive. Because of Vectra's addiction to the techno style, the architecture of the main volume of body and its plastic loses the rest in the dynamics, but the composition of the car is solid. In addition, Opel demonstrates in German verified and geometrically clear lines of absolutely circular arches of the wheels and direct lines with which the windowsill wedge is drawn. In comparison with this, the Citroen plastic looks softer, not to mention Toyota, which is although less dynamic, but plastic, soft and it looks even impoverished.
Citroen C5 is an alignment and aquadynamic design looks not so bad, but only for those who do not know the history of the company.
Evaluation 4.
Opel Vectra quality and solid design that distinguishes the German school of recent years. As for the style of techno, it is still in fashion.
Rating 5.
Toyota Avensis is a very high-quality and modern design to which you just need to look at, but only then draw conclusions.
Rating 5.
 
INSIDE:
By the nature of plastics and style interiors, Opel and Toyota demonstrate a rather close relationship with their outdoor design. And this is a big plus. The plastic of the panel of instruments and upholstery of the Citroen doors is different. Unlike exterior, it defiantly stylish. What is only one x-shaped stroke of lines, which organized a drawing of the central console! The interior style of Opel is strict and straightforward and is largely reminded of a little conservative, but very good style of trimmed under the TV tree of the deceased company Grundig. In Japan, for a long time without a navigation system, no one rides even the native city. Therefore, a multifunctional screen that is inoperable to hide in the top cover of the Toyota instrument panel, an important composite place is given. As a result, the screen even rises above the combination of instruments, and the organization of the entire central console is pulled up. Routed solid and four-spin, without a share of a hint at temperament. Door panels Related: Citroen Dynamic take-off of the upholstery connector line, decorated with wooden lining, can remind the design of a hot sports compartment, and the prudence of the functional construction of the door Opel is more expensive models representing the classics of the German automotive design.
Results:
 
Citroen C5 Unlike the exterior, everything is fulfilled very emotionally, which will make fans of the company's traditions.
Rating 5.
Opel Vectra One-minded solution, which due to excessive straightness may seem entitled and dry. Saves position Professionalism, cleanliness and quality of execution.
Rating 5.
Toyota Avensis is a very modern and stylish solution that fully meets both the requirements of high design and the modern level of its class.
Evaluation 4.

THE OVERALL RESULT:
Citroen C5 4.
Opel Vectra 5.
Toyota Avensis 5.
 
Text Vladimir Smirnov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

A source: Cars